COVID Vaccine Mix-Up: 3 People At US Military Base Given Pfizer Shots By Mistake

An investigation is underway by the U.S. Army after three people were accidentally given the Pfizer COVID vaccine instead of another type of vaccine at a Washington state military base.

The vaccine mishap occurred at the Lewis Main Exchange at Joint Base Lewis-McChord in Tacoma, Washington, Military Times reported. Joint Base Lewis-McChord is the location of the I Corps and the 62nd Airlift Wing.

In an email to Military Times, Col. Joey Sullinger with I Corps Public Affairs said, “Joint Base Lewis-McChord is aware three people were inadvertently administered the Pfizer COVID-19 vaccine instead of another vaccine at the Lewis Main Exchange."

Sullinger continued in his email, “Positive corrective action has been taken at this vaccination site to prevent such errors from happening again. Army medical professionals are notifying and ensuring the health and welfare of those affected. This incident is under investigation.”

The names of the individuals who were accidentally inoculated with the COVID vaccines were not released by the Army. The report did not specify if the individuals were military members of civilian employees.

Military service personnel were mandated to be inoculated with the COVID vaccine back in August. Department of Defense workers have until Nov. 22 to be fully vaccinated.

In August, Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin ordered over 800,000 service members to get their COVID-19 vaccination immediately, saying in a memo to service leaders obtained by the Associated Press, “To defend this Nation, we need a healthy and ready force.”

The Department of Defense has reported 1,431,012 service members are fully vaccinated against COVID-19, while 315,075 are partially vaccinated against the virus.

The DOD has recorded 381,391 total cases of the coronavirus, with 572 COVID-19 deaths.